{Hug Of Death}

Inside a two-story house, a family of three ate their meal as they talked about their day. 

"Say, Neil, how was your day today at the dragon-killing class." 

At the mention of this, the young red-haired boy who was cheerfully eating became serious. "Well, we moved from practicing on straw dragons to real ones. Today we each had to kill a terrible terror that was caught in the last attack." 

His parents did not miss the change in his mood. 

His father sighed and gave him a pat on the shoulder, "You dislike killing dragons that much?" Neil shrugged, "It's not that simple. I'm sure I'll be fine with killing dragons when they attack but having to kill them for a simple class. It makes me feel guilty, it's like asking me to kill a dog or a cat. His father rubbed his temples and began mumbling something to himself. Neil had definitely hit some kind of nerve."A dog or a cat huh? To think that you would compare such sacred creatures to those damned beasts. At least with a dog or a cat, you don't have to worry about them eating your mother."

Neil was surprised by his father's response and tone. He was usually a calm person and he had never seen his father so angry. 

'Starve them and we'll see. But what about this mother thing? Could that be how grandma died or is he worried about mom?"

Trying to de-escalate the situation he was prepared to apologize but two loud bell rings caused them to stand up and run for their weapons. 

His parents ran out through the door and he ran up the steps to the second floor. He opened the wooden window and walked out to the roof. From there he had a clear view of the whole town. 

One by one torches were lit which gave a clear view of what was going on. From afar dragons flying through the starry sky began diving into the village. 

'The hell! There has to be at least 20 of them!'

"Quick Quick everyone get in!" 

He looked below and found a line of children being led into his bunker. He could see why his grandfather called it a burrow. The children looked like meerkats running to their tunnel after danger was detected. 

'What I would give to be able to use my OWN bunker!'

After the last kid entered the bunker and they covered the metal door with a mat of grass he turned back to look at the dragons. Since there was an underground tunnel that led to his house Neil would immediately enter the bunker. It was cowardly but it ensured his safety so he didn't really care.This was the first time that he had seen a wild dragon attack. Seeing them in the movie was very different than real life. 

'Well, shit no wonder everyone wants to kill all of you. If it wasn't because I knew that you all could be tamed then I might be the same way. Living for 16 years in a world where animal rights were such an important thing also helps.'

He sighed once and grabbed his bow and aimed at the incoming dragons. His first target was a Deadly Nadder who grabbed ahold of one of the sheep that his neighbors had. He aimed for its eye but it tilted its head and blocked it with its tough skull. Neil readied another arrow and aimed once more but a war cry of a nearby Viking caught his attention. Roughly 60 feet away a man by the name of Vosnaf was fighting against a Grapple Grounder dragon. The dragon seemed to be more annoyed than anything as it easily evaded the attacks. With a tail whip, it sent the loud Viking flying into the wall of a nearby home. 

'Ouch, he's definitely going to be feeling that for a few days. 

Seeing the unconscious Viking the dragon began walking towards Vosnaf and picked him up from the leg. As it began flapping its wings Neil quickly released an arrow that pierced its back where both wings met. 

The green snake-like dragon growled in pain, releasing Vosnaf and causing him to fall to the ground. 

Its gaze turned wildly until it spotted Neil and once it did it began to flap its wings once again. In seconds the 20-something ft dragon was airborne. It did a somersault and its tail spear-like tail hit the roof hard creating a hole in the house. Neil was barely able to dodge the attack by jumping back suddenly the snake-like dragon extended its body and lunged toward him. Finding himself in an off position Neil was left with no other choice but to roll off the roof. The moment that he made contact he felt the air get pushed out of him. 

As he gasped for air he looked at the surroundings and found that he had fallen in his mother's garden.

Before he could do anything else he felt something wrap around his waste. He looked back to find the dragon's tail starting to tighten itself. Neil began punching the dragon's body to try to free himself but it did no good. He also tried reaching for his daggers but the tail had already covered them.As he began to lose hope his life began flashing by. Not just his life now but the one from Earth. The faces of his family which he couldn't remember were finally unblurred.

'Mom…Dad, I know wherever you are I want you to know that I tried coming back to you. It's been more than 12 years…..By now they should be 54 years old.' 

While he was in danger it was as if time had slowed down. But even as slow as it seemed the pressure being applied by the dragon continued to increase. 

"Tara…Nasak you have been great parents so far I wish you the best of luck."

As he gave his last words he heard a loud war cry. When he looked down he found his grandfather swinging his axe at one of the dragon's front legs. A loud metallic clang was heard before the dragon cried in pain as its limp was severed. 

For an instant, it felt like the pressure he was feeling was tripled but soon it began to loosen which dropped onto the floor and he blacked out. 

.

.

.

When Neil woke up he found himself in his room wrapped in clothes. He tried to get up but the moment that he moved a wave of pain hit his body. 

"Ow!"

He felt movement from the side of the bed and he found his parents sleeping on the floor next to his bed. He couldn't help but smile,' You two really are great parents,'

Since he couldn't get up and he didn't want to make noise and wake his parent up he could do nothing but look at the wooden and thatch roof. 

'Will I ever go back home? Even if I do what will I go back to? What if I do go back and end up in my old body as a man near his 30s?'After asking himself countless questions he shook his head and sighed, 'Well whatever happens having the choice to go back is what matters to me even if I end up not going back.' Neil then closed his eyes and imagined his parents which were still fresh in his mind after the vision that he had.